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When you take a step away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, there is a place where the flow of time quietly breathes. In a corner of Oi, Shinagawa Ward, within a lush green garden, memories of the Jomon period lie gently at rest. This is the Omori Shell Mound Ruins Garden. In 1877, this site was accidentally discovered from a train window by American zoologist Dr. Edward S. Morse, and it became the place that heralded the dawn of Japanese archaeology.
Passing through the entrance of the garden, the first thing that catches your eye is the bust of Dr. Morse. His gentle smile still conveys the passion that drew him from a distant foreign land to this place. Beside it, a cross-section specimen of the shell mound is displayed, and the many layers of stacked shells tell the story of the lives of the Jomon people.
In the central “Jomon Plaza,” mist sprays out every 30 minutes to ease the summer heat. The sight of children running around with joyful shouts is a scene unique to this place, where the modern and ancient worlds intersect. At the back of the plaza is the “Stratum Corridor,” where walls modeled after the layers of the shell mound invite visitors into the world of the Jomon.
As you walk through the garden, you will find displays everywhere that convey life in the Jomon period. Models of pit dwellings, earthenware, stone tools, and ornaments vividly recreate the daily lives of the people of that era. At the Shell Mound Learning Plaza, you can also learn how the Jomon people coexisted with nature.
This garden is not just a preserved archaeological site, but a precious space where you can feel the breath of ancient times within modern urban life. Flowers bloom in all seasons, providing comfort to visitors. Standing here, you realize that you are sharing the same sky that the Jomon people once looked up at.
The Omori Shell Mound Ruins Garden is a place where past and present quietly coexist. When you want to escape the city’s noise and feel the ancient wind, you should definitely visit. There, a story that transcends time is quietly waiting for you.